Assessment of CYGNSS Wind Speed Retrievals in Tropical Cyclones

The NASA CYGNSS satellite constellation measures ocean surface winds using the existing network of the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and was designed for measurements in tropical cyclones (TCs). Here, we focus on using a consistent methodology to validate multiple CYGNSS wind data record...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Remote sensing (Basel, Switzerland) Switzerland), 2021-12, Vol.13 (24), p.5110
Main Authors: Ricciardulli, Lucrezia, Mears, Carl, Manaster, Andrew, Meissner, Thomas
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Algorithms
Bias
Calibration
Cyclones
CYGNSS
Datasets
Global navigation satellite system
Hurricanes
Investigations
Meteorology
microwave remote sensing
Ocean surface
ocean surface winds
Quality control
Radiometers
Rain
Remote sensing systems
Satellite constellations
Satellites
Science
Sensors
Storms
Tropical cyclones
Tropical meteorology
Uncertainty
Wind
Wind speed
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Summary:The NASA CYGNSS satellite constellation measures ocean surface winds using the existing network of the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and was designed for measurements in tropical cyclones (TCs). Here, we focus on using a consistent methodology to validate multiple CYGNSS wind data records currently available to the public, some focusing on low to moderate wind speeds, others for high winds, a storm-centric product for TC analyses, and a wind dataset from NOAA that applies a track-wise bias correction. Our goal is to document their differences and provide guidance to users. The assessment of CYGNSS winds (2017–2020) is performed here at global scales and for all wind regimes, with particular focus on TCs, using measurements from radiometers that are specifically developed for high winds: SMAP, WindSat, and AMSR2 TC-winds. The CYGNSS high-wind products display significant biases in TCs and very large uncertainties. Similar biases and large uncertainties were found with the storm-centric wind product. On the other hand, the NOAA winds show promising skill in TCs, approaching a level suitable for tropical meteorology studies. At the global level, the NOAA winds are overall unbiased at wind regimes from 0–30 m/s and were selected for a test assimilation into a global wind analysis, CCMP, also presented here.
ISSN:2072-4292
2072-4292
DOI:10.3390/rs13245110